Mesomorphic Properties of Some 4, 4′- Alkyl and Alkoxy Disubstituted Phenylbenzoates

Abstract

A variety of new 4, 4′-disubstituted phenylbenzoates with one and/or both substituents as alkyl (R) or alkoxy (RO) were prepared and their mesomorphic (liquid crystalline) properties determined for later use as standards for comparison with mesomorphic properties in other new 4, 4′-disubstituted phenylbenzoates. Other esters of this type, which had been previously reported, were prepared for physical studies of their mesophases and found to have different mesomorphic properties than those reported earlier. Still others were prepared to identify phases which were not determined previously. This paper presents new mesomorphic properties along with a comparison of the NMR spectra for the four possible analogs of these esters (R—R, R—OR, RO—R, RO—OR).

Key Words:

• phenylbenzoates
• mesogens
• liquid crystals
• NMR